DIY - Do It Yourself

Rule #1, do no try to over-engineer your project

This is not rocket science. People have been building stone structures before there was written language.

There are plenty of good books and resources on the internet to help guide you. Most of these include steps that have the freeze-thaw cycle in mind. As we do not have that, save yourself a few steps, and money, and keep it simple. “Call us before you dig” and refer to Rule #1.

Every situation will be a little different and there is unfortunately not a magic formula to get exact needed quantities as each project is unique. Talk to one of our trained associates; explain what you are trying to do and we will get you going in the right direction.

A couple of “Rules of Thumb”:

Most homeowner patios or walk ways will be “dry laid” or on a 2” bed of granite screenings ( save some to the side if you are going to use it to fill in the cracks ). Most flagging, or larger stone, will cover between 80 and 100 square feet per ton. Keep in mind where the water will flow.

Dry Stacked Stone Walls fall into 2 categories:

"Bed lining walls" that are not holding back significant weight, typically 8" or less, will require about 1 ton of stone per 35-40 square face feet. IE, a ton of stone will go 70 to 80 linear feet at six inches tall.

"Structural Walls", 1 foot and higher, will usually require 1 ton of stone per 25 square face feet. Depending on load, these walls will require a back banter of 3 to 12 degrees. Usually a good idea to back fill the wall with some gravel. Adds stability and allows water to filter between the layers.
Water is the major enemy of any wall, it has to go somewhere. No clear cut answer. Sometimes it can be piped out a side. Sometimes weep holes through the wall will be necessary.

We look forward to seeing you and helping you get started on a successful project.